Washington, DC, Nov. 5, 2013 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) reports that the Association has reached an historic milestone, with 10,000 companies in its Membership for the first time ever.
“The past several years have been challenging for business aviation,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “The fact that NBAA has reached this Membership total in difficult economic times is testimony to the continued value of business aviation, and NBAA’s important role in representing and advocating for this essential industry.”
According to Bolen, NBAA’s 10,000th Member exemplifies why companies rely on business aviation. That Member, TCB Air, LLC, operates a Beechcraft King Air C90A about 300 hours a year out of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) in Michigan. Two Midwestern manufacturing companies own the plane, and use it to transport sales, engineering and other staff to customer locations and plants throughout the U.S. The twin-turboprop is also used to bring customers to the companies’ headquarters in Kalamazoo.
NBAA was established in 1947 with 19 charter Members. Today, the Association represents a diverse set of companies of all sizes, across the U.S., which depend on the use of business aircraft to be more efficient, productive and successful.
Over the years, NBAA has promoted a host of initiatives that support all Member Companies using business aviation, including improvements to airways and airports, enhanced weather-reporting services, expansion of communications and air navigation facilities, equitable tax rulings for business aircraft operators and better air traffic control procedures, among other issues.
Most recently, NBAA was in the forefront of disseminating information and bringing to the attention of Congress the devastating effects on aviation of the federal government shutdown, including the disastrous repercussions caused by the closure of the FAA Aircraft Registry and the hold on business aviation training and certifications. Read more about NBAA’s efforts during the government shutdown.
NBAA has also worked to defeat other initiatives that would have an adverse impact on the industry, including proposals for aviation user fees, efforts to dismantle the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, the Transportation Security Administration’s attempt to implement a Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) and other onerous policy proposals.
The Association continues its efforts to educate policymakers and opinion leaders about the value of business aviation, primarily through the No Plane No Gain advocacy campaign, which is co-sponsored by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. The campaign highlights the fact that business aviation supports 1.2 million jobs and generates $150 billion in economic activity each year, provides a transportation lifeline to communities with little or no airline service, helps companies thrive, and supports humanitarian initiatives across the country. Learn more about No Plane No Gain.
NBAA has also continually evolved its offerings of events, products and services to support Members’ operations and help industry professionals ascend in their careers. In addition to the Association’s widely recognized Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, NBAA hosts a number of other seminars, conferences, forums and educational webinars each year.
NBAA also provides a professional staff of industry experts, including an Operations Services Group, Air Traffic Services specialists and six regional representatives who advocate for business aviation across the country, work with regional aviation groups and assist Member Companies with operational and management concerns.
